Lubec Channel Light- Lubec, Maine

Lubec Channel Light- the Sparkplug

The Lubec Channel Light is known as a 'sparkplug' lighthouse because of its shape. Another lighthouse with the same general outline is the 'Bug Light' in South Portland. The Lubec Sparkplug is made of brick-lined cast iron.

The lighthouse can be seen from a variety of locations including from the bridge to Campobello and along the road to the West Quoddy light (which is where this photo was taken).

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
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Mulholland Point Lighthouse- Campobello Island

Mulholland Point Lighthouse

Mulholland Point Lighthouse is just across the Lubec Channel from Lubec, Maine on Campobello Island. The lighthouse is visible from the dock in Lubec (seen in the photo below) and from the visitors center in NB (where I am standing).

The lighthouse is not open, but the grounds around the lighthouse can be used for picnics. (You need a passport to go to Canada!)

Mulholland Pt Light from the Lubec dock. (The doppelganger off to the right is the visitors center in Canada!)

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032
www.whitecedarinn.com

Wordless Wednesday- 2 Day Maine Vacation

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

East Quoddy Lighthouse- Campobello Island

East Quoddy Lighthouse

East Quoddy Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Canada. It sits on the very edge (and then some!) of Campobello Island in New Brunswick in the Passamaquoddy Bay. During low tide there are 2 ladders that can be used to climb to the island. (Also known as the Head Harbor Light.) One ladder is located just off the parking area and the other is across the sandbar at the edge of the rocks up to the island.

(Where does 'Quoddy' come from? It is shorthand for 'Passamaquoddy' which is the name of the bay and the local Native tribe. The name is said to mean 'place of many pollock'. If referring to the tribe it means 'people of the place of many pollock'.)

We weren't there at low tide so were not able to walk across on the sandbar to get close to the lighthouse. Maybe next time!

Click on photos to enlarge.

Pay attention to the tides, don't guess!

Stairs to beach for crossing to the island. The water is unbelievably clear.

Fishing weir. Mackerel? Herring? Pollock?

Sea urchin dredging.

Stairs up to island in lower right corner of photo.

 To get here: Follow directions from Lubec to Campobello Island. You are leaving the US! Be sure you have a passport to re-enter the States. Once on Campobello Island, follow the signs to the lighthouse. (The main road on Campobello loops around the island.)

Helpful tips: US currency is accepted at local stores, but ask first, don't be a bozo. There is an outhouse near the parking lot. Bring tp!

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

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West Quoddy Head Lighthouse

West Quoddy Head Light

One of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine is the West Quoddy Head Light. Standing at the easternmost point in the contiguous US, the land mass you see behind the lighthouse is Campobello Island, New Brunswick. 

Technicality- the easternmost point in the United States is actually in Alaska. West Quoddy is the easternmost point on the mainland in the contiguous US states. AK also holds the westernmost record for a US state. Ditto northernmost! I could continue by pointing out there is a tiny island off the coast of the lighthouse grounds that is farther east, but this could go on forever! And then, Eastport holds claim to the easternmost city in the contiguous US states, whereas Lubec is the easternmost town. I have to stop now I'm getting dizzy!

How about some photos instead of geography lessons! The rest of the photos were taken in the West Quoddy Head Park. We did not go far down the trail, which is several miles long, but turned around to head off to Campobello Island.

Click on photos to make them larger.

Stairs to the cobble beach.

Rocky coastline.

I'm in heaven...a beach full of rocks!

Quoddy Narrows.

West Quoddy Lighthouse.

On the cliffs.

Distant shores.

Sea urchin on cobble beach.

Weird beach stuff! Arctica islandica trapped in roots.

Off the coast of Maine.

How to get here: Rt 1 north to Rt 189 (Lubec County Rd). Follow signs for lighthouse. (This is 5 hours from here, so not really a day trip!)

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land

Ever wonder what Frodo and Bilbo saw on their trek through Middle Earth? I bet it looked a lot like this. In the summer, when all the deciduous trees are in leaf, this has to be one dark woodland. We took the coastal trail to the scenic 'overlook' (more on that later). The hike is 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the overlook. (Similar distance to walking from here to Shaw's.) Other than the similarity in distance, these walks are worlds apart!

Rather than yak on, this blog will be mostly photos. Enjoy! (Click on the photos to enlarge.)

Crossing the stream, perfectly placed stepping stones.

Crossing over the boggy bits.

We've hiked in a lot of Maine parks and I do have to say that this was one of the best preserved in regard to maintenance on the trails. There were a few new tree falls across the path, but they were easy to go over or under. Given how well the trail is maintained, my guess is they'll be gone soon.

The trail is so obvious that the tree blazes are almost not necessary but a couple of times we were glad to see them just to validate we were headed the right way.

I will say this trail is not for the faint of heart partly because of lots of rocks, roots and up and down hill, but mostly because of the scenic 'overlook'.

This, then, is the payoff for hiking over hill and dale, rock and root, boggy bits and all...the Bold Coast of Maine...

Thunder hole

The Bold Coast of Maine

The trees give way and that's the view from the scenic overlook. Well worth the hike! There is just no way to describe the 'ends of the Earth' feeling of stepping out of the woods and the ocean right in front of you, a long, long way down! You can see in the photo that the evergreens grow right along the tops of the cliffs.

Helpful hints- wear good shoes! This is not the place for open-toed sandals. Bug repellent will be a must in the summer. Bring along some tp for the outhouse! Vertigo? Hold on tight to the rocks, it's scary up there at the scenic overlook.

How to get here: Take Rt 1 north to Rt 191. Go thru the town of Cutler and the park is about 5 miles outside the village on the right. If you come in from Lubec, the park is about 10 miles from the intersection with Rt 189 (County Rd).

There are many more trails in the park that we did not have time to wander along. Here is a link to the park map.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Wordless Wednesday- Found on the beach

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Hendrick's Head Lighthouse

Hendrick's Head Lighthouse

Hendrick's Head Lighthouse took a bit of finding! Mostly because I turned back too soon thinking I was on the wrong road. It's a gorgeous drive out to here and you can 'get' several lighthouses in one outing around Boothbay Harbor. You can also take a whale watch out of Boothbay in the summer.

To take a photo from this angle, park at the Hendrick's Head Beach parking and walk back toward the Hendrick's Head Trail marker. Watch for traffic. This is a busy road even in March!

Directions: take Route 1 north to Rt 27 (Boothbay). Follow Rt 27 through Boothbay Harbor and out to Southport Island (you'll go over a steel swing bridge). Stay on Rt 27 until you come to Southport Town Clerk's office and the Southport Village Store. Bear right around the triangular intersection and as the road dips, follow the signs for Beach Rd (to the left). Park at the beach.

Boat excursions offer closer views of the lighthouse and the Sheepscot River.

For more info on the lighthouse, check the Lighthouse Friends website.

Combine seeing this lighthouse with the Cuckolds, Ram Island Light and Doubling Point Light.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Wordless Wednesday- Lighthouses of Maine

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Snowdrops

March 13, 2012

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes on the griddle.

This is one of those recipes that goes viral on the web overnight. It's fun and easy and very tasty. I'd seen a lot of blog posts on this one and decided to hand it off to Rock for him to test. Thank you to the 'guinea pigs' who gave them a try and a double thumbs up!

Ingredients:

Your basic pancake batter, whatever you like to use.

1/4 c light brown sugar

1/2 stick butter

1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Melt butter, mix in cinnamon and brown sugar. Pour into either a condiment squeeze bottle (as in photo) or use a plastic storage bag. Let set up. The mixture needs to be thick (think toothpaste or tile caulk) or it waters down the pancakes and makes a mess. (Remember, we test these things so you don't have to!) If the mixture gets too thick, knead plastic bag with (warm) hands until it's easy to dispense but not runny.  

Heat the griddle or fry pan, pour in your pancake batter, cook until bubbles start to form and then quickly make a swirl in the pancakes with the cinnamon mixture, starting at the center and working out. Do not go all the way to the edge or you won't be able to flip the pancake without it falling apart. Flip pancakes and continue to cook other side. (How Rock tells if the pancakes are done: gently tap the top and edge of the pancakes. If they spring back- done. If not, cook a little longer.)

Serve bottom side up so you can see the cinnamon swirl! The butter and sugar make the pancakes nice and crunchy. 

The recipes I found online showed the pancakes topped with icing like a cinnamon roll. That just makes my teeth hurt thinking about it. So, we eschewed the icing and let you top with our maple syrup if you need a bit more sweet.

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes!

Click here for printable recipe

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032